Improvement in paper-damping implements



D; L. MULPORD. Paper-Damping Implement.

No. 209,183 Patented Oct. 22,1878.

NFETEHS, PHOTD-UTHOGRAPHER, WAsmMGTON. 0. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIGE.

DANIEL L. MULFOBD, 0F NE? YORK, 'ASSIGNOR TO JOHN O. ADSIT, OF

' HORNELLSVILLE, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PAPER-DAMPING IMPLEMENTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 209,183, dated October 272, 1878; application filed March 15, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL L. MULFoRD, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Copying- Paper Damping-Implements, of which the following is a specification:

This invent-ion is designed to afford an implement ready charged with water, and adapted to dampen sheets of paper upon which copies of writings are to be made. Heretofore it has been the practice to use for this purpose a costly oamels-hair brush, which, dipped in a vessel of water and passed over the paper, will evenly dampen the surface thereof. These brushes are, however, not only inconvenient to use from the necessity of frequently dipping them, but they are also expensive and liable to easy destruction, which results from their being frequently wet. They also soon become troublesome by reason of their hairs coming out and adhering to the surface of the copyin g-paper, and finally by this means they become wholly useless.

My invention consists in an implement which is composed of a hollow compressible vessel or reservoir supplied with a flexible rubber, through which the water will readily pass, and be evenly given oil and deposited upon the paper, the structure of which will be more particularly hereinafter set forth.

Two forms of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 and 2 being front and side elevations, and Figs. 3 and 4 longitudinal and cross sections of one form, and Fig. 5 a side elevation, and Fig. 6 a cross-section, of another form.

The hollow body or reservoir A of the implement is preferably constructed of indiarubber, so as to be compressible, and of an oblong form, as in Figs. 1 and 3, so as to be well adapted to be held in the hand and afford an extended surface for the rubber B with which its month end is provided. This rubber B may be made of sponge, bristles, hair, felt, or similar material through which water will readily pass and be given off from, and its component parts are held in place by means of openings 0 formed in the top or upper end of the body or reservoir A, through which they extend into the reservoir, so as to project a short distance from said top or end of the body A.

Inasmuch as the bearing-surface of the rubber B must beof such length as to adapt it to cover a considerable surface of the paper, and thus readily dampen an extended surface of the same, it is necessary, in order that it may be properly supplied with a suitable quantity of water, that it shall communicate with the reservoir A at two or more points, according to its capacity to readily absorb water, the area of its surface, and the extent of its body. Thus, if made of sponge, which is a ready absorbent of water, two pieces, as 1 2, will generally be found to be suflicient. These pieces of sponge will be forced through the openings 0, so as to extend into the reservoir, and their protruding ends will preferably be trimmed, as shown in Figs. 3, 4, so that when damp their sides will abut and form a continuous rubbing-surface. If made of felt, three or more pieces will be found desirable, and they will be trimmed in like manner as the sponge. If bristles or hair is used, the openings 0 will require to be placed closely together, for the reason that said materials will not otherwise spread enough to form a continuous rubbing-surface. Thus constructed, the reservoir may be filled with water by immersing the rubber B in a vessel of water,

and producing a vacuum within the body A by compressing the same.

The implement may be used by holding in the grasp of the hand and moving its rubber B over the surface to be dampened after the manner of using a brush. At the same time the requisite amount of water maybe caused to pass through the rubber B and be deposited upon the surface of the paper by exerting a gentle pressure upon the body A.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4, I provide the body A, near its upper end, with a ledge, E, which projects far enough to form a support, raising the same above the surface upon which the implement may be rested, and thus prevent contact of the rubber with dirt, and

.avoid its giving off dampness to injure the surface on which it is laid.

If it is desired, this implement may be provided with a handle, as H, Figs. 5 and 6, and

this handle may be affixed to the body A in any convenient manner, a good attachment being provided by constructing the said body A with a tenon, T, which enters a mortise in said handle. This form of the device also shows the body A made polygonal; but it is obvious that any shape may be given it.

A fountain-damping implement for copying purposes is a desideratum long sought after, which my improved device furnishes. Its structure is suchas to afford the greatest convenience in its use, while it is not liable to injure objects upon which it may be rested.

Having now described my improved implement and set forth the advantages it possesses, what I claim is- As a new article of manufacture, a damping implement consisting of a compressible water-reservoir supplied with a rubber, which is composed of sponge or similar absorbent material, so attached to said reservoir as to communicate therewith through two or more openings therein, and thus be evenly surcharged with water throughout its extended surface, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I' have signed my name to this specification in the presence of 

